Smoke in Auburn likely coming from Chips Fire

If you're smelling and seeing smoke in the Auburn area Wednesday afternoon, you can thank the Chips Fire and the northerly winds.

According to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) spokesman Daniel Berlant, the change in wind patterns is bringing smoke down from the Chips Fire, located in Plumas County, two miles northwest of Belden by Highway 70.

"We're not working any fire in the region," Berlant said. "What we're seeing is drift smoke. There's not a new fire that Cal Fire is working on. The northerly wind is bringing smoke down to the Sacramento Valley."

The U.S. Forest Service is currently battling the Chips Fire, a wildfire that is currently 18,001 acres in size and is 10 percent contained. Currently there 1,005 personnel fighting the blaze.